Mission Connection Magazine 
Partnering Technology and LINKS North Florida District NMI President Susan Day likes to use technology. She once used Skype* in a district NMI convention to talk with the district’s LINKS missionaries. She describes the event and provides some tips for those who are unfamiliar with the technology. Susan wrote it with a district in mind; her comments have been adapted for the local church.
The Skype broadcast was run through our sound booth at the church. One of the really neat things is that you can pray for/with the missionaries (especially your LINKS) and hear their feedback, as well as giving them a chance to give "live" greetings to your church.
As to the technical side of things, one major issue was setting the time accurately in both time zones so that the broadcast would fit into your schedule and assure that the missionaries were available on their end. You don't really want the missionary to have to wait up until 3 a.m.! You should be flexible with your time, giving a timeframe during which both parties could talk. It helps to have a missionary that is tech savvy and responds to e-mails and phone calls quickly so you can rely on the person knowing how to follow through on his/her end. The missionary should also have Skype and preferably have a Web camera. (You can make a phone call via Skype, but seeing and hearing the person via computer is more effective.)
A broadcast such as this would also be a prime way to involve some younger people. They can very easily pick up the "tech" side of it. They could even network through NYI to help the church do the Skype adventure in a mission emphasis during the church year. (This activity would help your church fulfill the multimedia mission education requirement for Mission Priority One.)
I rely very heavily on technology. When Daniel and Carol Ketchum were our LINKS missionaries (before Skype), we called them in Italy and talked with them. I use video clips, numerous PowerPoint presentations, and music during "lag time." Nina Gunter once told me that whenever you have someone at the podium, you should always have something on the screen for the people to see.
I hope that this helps. It does take forethought to use the Skype. We contacted the missionaries well in advance (perhaps two months) and set everything up. Then we did a test run during the week prior to the event.
Of course, you should always have a Plan B because on things do not always go according to schedule and the "unexpected" does come up!
Susan Day
North Florida District NMI President
* Skype is a free software that allows people to have free video conversations, if both parties have the software installed. To access Skype, you need a computer, an internet connection (broadband is best), and a webcam to make video calls. To download the software, go to www.skype.com.
Mission Corps LINKed Globally
“LINKS is truly a blessing and really makes me feel like a real missionary,” said Jennifer Staudt. Jennifer, serving in Ecuador, went on to say that, while she has only been LINKed two months with her district, it has been a rainstorm of blessing.
Bob and Evelyn Shea, serving in Honduras praise God that they can “feel” they are being lifted in prayer. For years Bob prayed and promoted prayer for LINKS missionaries as a district NMI president.
After only being LINKed for two weeks, Audrey Buckwalter writes, “When we returned to Mexico, we received birthday cards, anniversary cards, e-mails, and money gifts. A number of local missionary presidents and LINKS secretaries have written or made connection on Facebook. We have even done a Skype webcam interview with the church in Hershey, Pennsylvania.”
After serving on her own since 1997, Roberta Bustin said she was thrilled to have a district praying for her and her ministries in Romania.
So what’s so different about these missionaries? They are long-term Mission Corps missionaries. They are serving under agreement with Global Mission, but they don’t receive salaries; they raise their own funds.
With the blessing of the Global NMI Council, 10 Mission Corps “units” were placed on LINKS this year. (A unit is a single, couple, or family.) All have served a minimum of a year with a call and passion to serve as missionaries as long as God directs.
Alissa Monterroso believes that being on LINKS is a legitimate step of the church in accepting Mission Corps as “official” missionaries. Giovanni and Alissa Monterroso serve in Guatemala.
Linda Phelps
NMI LINKS Coordinator
Introducing the New LINKS Assignment
Once every two years your church receives at least one new family. They may not be members of your church; in fact, they are most likely members elsewhere. But they become part of your church and develop relationships that may last for years. How much a part of your church they will become largely depends on you and other leaders in the church.
These new “family members” are your LINKS missionaries.* New LINKS assignments are distributed every two years, and this is the year it takes place. Some in your church may already be familiar with the missionaries with whom your church is LINKed; however, there are probably new people or some youth and children who are not acquainted with them.
Now is the time to celebrate the LINKS family’s adoption into your church family. You can find ideas for adoption parties/celebrations online or in books at the library. A creative person in your church may also have some great ideas. As you plan, keep asking “Will the person who knows nothing about LINKS and about this missionary have a proper understanding after this event?”
Following are a few ideas to get started. Use any or all of them, adapting them for your church, or create your own.
- Review the information about your LINKS family received from your district, then contact your LINKS family as soon as possible to ask additional questions.
- Create a display/bulletin board with pictures of the LINKS missionary family. Have a section for each person in the family (and maybe their pets). Try to find items that represent each person (his/her hobbies, favorite foods, world area where that person was born [if a country other than your own], and where they live/serve now).
- Invite church members/families to purchase a small item for a member of the family or for the whole family. Such items could be a small game that the family could play, a family friendly movie, or items listed in the information received from the district. Keep the items small and light, so shipping doesn’t cost too much, and be sure it is something the LINKS family will be able to use where they live. If your missionary cannot receive packages, send money to Global Treasury Services for your LINKS and inform the missionary of the monetary gift and what event it represents.
- Make LINKS refrigerator magnets by attaching a magnet to copies of a photo of your missionary (if you do not have a creative access missionary). If there is no photo, a silhouette of the person(s) or a map of the area where they are serving may be substituted (again, if they are not creative access). Distribute to your congregation.
- Host an adoption party, allowing people from your church who are the same ages as the family members to represent each person. Video the party for the LINKS missionaries, and be sure to give the family members a rousing welcome.
- For an adoption ceremony, adapt the dedication or baptism ritual from the Manual of the Church of the Nazarene with your church and new LINKS missionaries in mind. Have the pastor, pastoral staff, local NMI council, and entire congregation state how they will support the LINKS missionary family. Close with a meaningful prayer.
Gail L. Sawrie
NMI Editor
* The words “family,” “missionary,” and “missionaries” may be used interchangeably, depending on your LINKS assignment.
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